Electronic Locker Reservation by Type for Dynamic Unit Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing electronic locker systems are inflexible and lead to over-reservation of locker units, resulting in unused capacities as specific locker units are reserved in advance without being actually used, leading to inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A method for operating electronic locker systems that dynamically reserves locker units based on compartment-type-related information, allowing selection of a locker unit only when a shipment is deposited, and adjusts reservation information dynamically to ensure optimal usage without pre-assigning specific locker units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If specific locker units are reserved in advance for parties, then parties can ensure availability of lockers for their consignments, but locker system capacity is wasted due to rigid reservation and unused locker units
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static pre-assignment of specific locker units to dynamic selection at the time of deposit. The computer processing unit determines information about available locker units based on current reservation data and selects an appropriate locker unit when the party deposits the consignment, allowing the system to adapt to real-time availability rather than being locked into predetermined assignments.
Solution Approach 2:
The reservation information is segmented to contain compartment type-related information (number of dynamically reserved locker units of each locker type) rather than specific locker unit identifiers. This segmentation allows the system to reserve capacity by type while leaving specific unit assignment flexible, enabling other parties to use unreserved locker units of the same type.
2Reliability
If rigid reservation of specific locker units is implemented, then parties can guarantee locker availability, but system flexibility and adaptability to real-time conditions deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic locker unit selection where the computer processing unit determines available locker units based on current reservation information and selects an appropriate unit at the time of deposit. This dynamic approach maintains reliability by ensuring a reserved number of lockers are available while improving adaptability by allowing flexible assignment based on real-time system state.
Solution Approach 2:
The reservation information structure is changed from containing specific locker unit identifiers to containing compartment type-related information (counts of reserved units by type). This parameter change enables the system to maintain reservation guarantees while adapting to real-time availability by selecting from multiple possible locker units of the required type.
3Reliability
If specific locker units are pre-assigned to parties, then reservation certainty is improved, but locker system productivity and efficient allocation are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamic determination of locker unit information by the computer processing unit based on current reservation data. This ensures reservation certainty by maintaining reserved capacity while improving allocation efficiency by selecting from available units at the time of deposit rather than using fixed pre-assignments, thereby optimizing overall system productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
Reservation information is segmented into compartment type-related data rather than specific unit assignments. This allows the system to guarantee reserved capacity by type while enabling efficient real-time allocation of specific units, improving productivity by reducing unused capacity and optimizing locker unit utilization across the system.
Data Source
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Figure 2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
Among other things, it is disclosed a method for operating at least one electronic locker system, each locker system comprising a plurality of locker units, comprising: determining information about at least one locker unit of a locker system of the at least one locker system, in which a shipment assigned to a party is to be deposited, by a computer processing unit, based on reservation information for this locker system assigned to the party, wherein the reservation information assigned to the party contains locker-type-related information which, for each locker type of at least one locker type in the locker system, includes information about the number of dynamically reserved locker units of the locker type, selection of a locker unit of the at least a locker unit based on the determined provided information; Detecting an identifier that is physically assigned to the shipment to be deposited in the locker system by means of detection means; and associating the captured identifier of the shipment with the selected locker unit.